by Dan Rua…just a VC, living vicariously thru entrepreneurs…

Jedi Entrepreneur Mind Trick: TheFunded and VC Persuasion

“the Jedi mind trick is a Force power. Jedi who know the power can, by using the Force, influence the actions of other ‘weak-minded’ sentient beings.”

Now, replace “the Force” with “TheFunded”, “Jedi” with “Jedi Entrepreneur” and “other ‘weak-minded’ sentient beings” with “VCs” and you have:

“the Jedi Entrepreneur mind trick is a TheFunded power. Jedi Entrepreneurs who know the power can, by using TheFunded, influence the actions of VCs.”

I’ve noticed a growing trend of entrepreneurs contacting me with an intro referencing Inflexion’s good reputation at TheFunded. It’s usually a tone of congratulations. I think this is brilliant yet subtle and leverages yet another Jedi Entrepreneur power gained from social media (one of the earliest being the LinkedIn-enhanced, you-and-I-know-the-same-person cold call heater).

Maybe the entrepreneur really is impressed by Inflexion’s ratings, but, just maybe, he/she is using the Jedi Entrepreneur Mind Trick to influence the ‘weak-minded’ sentient beings, VCs. Such an email immediately puts the VC on notice that you are aware of TheFunded and you buy into the VC reputation-system it embodies. VCs who actually care about entrepreneur opinions are then susceptible to the Force persuasion.

Just as Obi-Wan Kenobi was able to say “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” and make it so, the Entrepreneur is then able to say “Your fund has a great reputation for thorough review, thoughtful feedback and value-added intros”. And guess what, chances of getting that thorough review, thoughtful feedback and value-added intros jump considerably. Just as the Force couldn’t create matter from non-matter, I’m not sure this force can make checks appear — but it could increase/speed your chances of changing the world.

Now, I’m not admitting to being in the “other ‘weak-minded’ sentient beings” category. But, I’d love to hear whether some real-world tests with various VCs can prove the power of TheFunded and the Jedi Entrepreneur Mind Trick. If it has no effect, only you can decide whether to cross over and use TheFunded for the dark side.

About

Thanks for stopping by. In case we haven't met before, I'm Dan Rua, Managing Partner of Inflexion Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Florida and focused on the Southeast US. Prior to Inflexion I was a partner with Draper Atlantic, DFJ's first east coast fund based in Northern Virginia. Prior to that I co-founded an email software company and was an engineer with IBM's Networking Software Labs in RTP, NC.

This blog is for sharing stories and discussing entrepreneurs, venture capital, technology, and Florida -- particularly when I can provide perspective unique from the typical Boston (B) or Silicon Valley (S) view. Inflexion is my third fund and all my funds have focused on building world-changing companies in regions outside the BS...